perspire

Where does the word "perspire" come from? It comes from Latin perspirare, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Perspire’s story begins in Latin: perspirare meant “to breathe through.” To breathe through, from per- (through) and spirare (to breathe). It reached English by 1600s as perspire. Settled as the English word for sweating. Today, perspire means to sweat, especially from heat, exercise, or nervousness.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient perspirare "to breathe through", to breathe through, from per- (through) and spirare (to breathe).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s perspire "to sweat", settled as the English word for sweating.